Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmad Azam Khan informed the National Parliament on April 5, 2026, that 481 individuals falsely listed as freedom fighters had their gazettes canceled between August 2024 and March 2026. The cancellations followed investigations and verifications conducted across the country. The announcement came in response to a notice from Sylhet-3 MP Md. Abdul Malik during the eighth day of the 13th Parliament’s first session, presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram.

MP Abdul Malik alleged that during the previous government, many fake freedom fighters were politically enlisted, depriving genuine veterans of recognition and benefits. He cited widespread misuse of state facilities, particularly in Sylhet’s Balaganj and South Surma areas. In reply, the minister said that identifying such fraudulent entries is an ongoing process handled by the National Freedom Fighters Council’s subcommittee, which cancels certificates and gazettes once allegations are proven.

The minister also pledged to expedite the handover of the South Surma Freedom Fighters Complex and to include Balaganj and Fenchuganj complexes in government development plans. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to honoring genuine freedom fighters and ensuring they receive proper recognition and digital identification.